Beyond the Front Line, day three

Today was another interesting day. Blue company spent the morning doing research in the Imperial War Museum across the way from the Lowry, which I really enjoyed because I have always been interested in the wars of the early nineteen hundreds, having read quite a bit of literature on the subject already I was able to experience what I really wanted, which was witness accounts of what life was like during wartime.

The research was very useful to me in that it brought home the thoughts and feeling one might experience not just when going to war, but having someone you know and love go to fight somewhere they have very little control over. Of course we have the choice to go to war now, as we did during world war two, people sign up for combat when they are needed which is both rewarding and daunting at the same time. During World War II, in some areas of the country, if a man that was of combat age did not enlist to the war effort it could have spelled social ruin for them, for example if they were to order a pint of beer at the local blacked out, tape windowed pub, the landlord (if he/she was particularly nasty) would place a white feather on the head of their pint, a cowards sign.

But perhaps I am drawing too much from history on this one, or maybe concentrating too much in the wrong direction, still some research is better than no research, and I really do feel that I understand the concept behind the piece, which helps me to appreciate the gravity of what we are doing and therefore convinces me to take it with as much enthusiasm and professionalism as I can. I know I entered uni to work on the skills which will support me as a comedian, but I am also an artist, and can appreciate this performance for what it really is. Yes the tickets cost money, yes there is money being pumped into advertising and yes I will be stood on a roof looking down at the Lowry for about three and a half hours but despite all that, I feel that it means much more than a simple theatre performance designed to make money, and that is worth at least the full attention and effort of Sye.

Beyond the Front Line, day two

Second day of rehearsals went much like the first with the exception of being separated into groups. These groups (or companies) were categorised as Blue company which was the people who make up the soldiers on the roof, Red company I can't really remember the function of, Yellow company were the Nurses I think and Green company are the people on the Plaza in front of the Lowry.

I'm part of Blue company, which means I get to see everything from on top of the roof looking down at the Plaza, and I get to hold a gun... ..good times!

We also did a few more exercises which supposedly highlighted our strengths and weaknesses (although there was only ever one member of the Slung Low team observing a group of fifty or so people, so it wasn't as if absolutely everyone was given fair play.) This experience is rapidly moving to the top of my list of experiences which give the feel of the 'world of work' as far as the business called show entails. I am very pleased with how its going, both the ups and the downs! for example: I wanted to be one of the soldiers on the roof, and give a largely visual performance and contribute to the overall spectacle as a team member, which is good because a downside would be that the members of Slung Low have clearly stated that essentially their word is final, and there will be very little exceptions to that fact. This again might seem like a bad thing, but it isn't! It more than demonstrates the kind of attitude one might experience if they were to pursue a career in theatre, maybe I am bias because I got a part I like and wanted, but it has come up roses for me.

I wouldn't say today was really challenging, tiring would be more appropriate. Walking forty minutes to the Lowry at the start of the day, all the theatre workshops, administration of 'this group and that group' and then walking back to my Halls of Residence is very very tiring work, I actually can't wait until we are performing, not only because I am excited to see the show come together, but because it will actually be less strenuous than this week!

Beyond the Front Line, day one

Today was the first day of rehearsals for Beyond the Front Line (henceforth referred to as 'BtFL',) were the rest of the cast and I was given an idea of the scale of this performance, and I can say that this is the biggest I have ever been involved in, possibly the biggest I would ever be involved in ever again with live theatre. As amazing as this may sound, this actually served to calm my nerves somewhat, before today I was really nervous (but excited, remember that!) about how things are going to work and whether I enough experience in theatre work to really explore the piece and give it the attention to detail it seemed it needed. Now I am not so nervous because I realise my fears were justified, which sounds like a 'backwards to go forwards' comment but actually it does make some small amount of sense, because I didn't underestimate the project, and I didn't over estimate the project, which means that so far it has met with my expectations.

So I feel a little more comfortable in what I am about to say: I think that this performance will be amazing, and I am extremely envious of the audience who are going to be taking part (read: taking part) in the production. I would advise anyone who can make it (and can afford it) to come and experience this show, because there is neither anything like it in existence, nor will you find anything else on this scale any time soon. More information on booking tickets and getting to the Lowry can be found at their website.

Its easy to spot me, just look for the purple.

Bang!.. and we hit the deck.

Today was more than I expected in that I imagined it would simply be completely administration, such as putting us into our groups, giving us numbers and roles and making sure we have a rough idea of whats going on. Instead we got a very good idea of whats going on, some concept activities, salute and drill practices, and a quick look around what looks to be a fantastic piece of on-site performance in the making that I am proud to be a part of. They did mention that there are some parts that will be specific towards certain people, for example there are some roles that are only open to girls, and obviously the more soldierly you look, the more likely you are to be near the audience, to support an immersive environment. I understand this, but at the same time I am a little bit let down that my physicality is restricting my position in the cast, but then it is totally my choice, and I am very grateful to even have the choice (a choice which I probably wouldn't have in the world of work.) Other than that, nothing to report sir!

EDIT: I am going to be using chunks of these posts in my written piece on the project, which will count towards my grade at the end, so it may sound a bit cock here or there, but I think it is all relevant (I mean everything I say, at least.) All posts regarding this project will have the 'BtFL' label, found in the 'projects' section.

My first assignment; Beyond the Front Line

Ok so today I got a full brief on what is to be expected in the coming month, on my first semester here on a HND Media Performance course at the University of Salford, and boy... its big.

As far as my experience with performing arts goes, I have only ever been involved with small scale theater work, as in some presentations/public speaking here, a bit of entertaining there, mostly just theatre. All next week I will be rehearsing at the Lowry in Manchester from 11am til 7pm everyday (and maybe Saturdays, that wasn't clear) for a large scale, on site (as in, outdoor, not-in-the-theatre/studio) performance of a military invasion of Salford. It is being produced by Slung Low and its pretty much their ball game, with the Lowry supplying some funding and a setting, they are doing most of the work, Salford University are supplying students... lots and lots of students. Almost all of the students under the umbrella of 'performance' are to be taking part in this venture, although I am still unsure how everyone will be worked (my guess is that they just need a shit-ton of soldiers.)

Wow..   ...I know right? that's big, here is the website that Slung Low have thrown up if you want to take a look, it looks like it could be quite intense, I know it will be a grueling task (not just the rehearsals and performance, but getting to and from the Lowry from my accommodation everyday) not to mention if it spills out over the weekend I won't be able to go home, which means I'll be missing work and the chance to earn some lolly. I'm not sure how I feel about it actually, I mean on the one hand its an amazing thing to be a part of, and while it really is asking a lot for a first year HND student, its what I wanted really, to be challenged. That and I'm not one to shy away from an adventure, regardless of how much hard work it is. On the other hand, it does seems like they are taking the piss. I've been here a week, I was in hospital on Monday for kidney pain, missing my induction as a result of that, and not only am I paying to be at university, but I will be losing money doing this assignment by:

a) Not being able to work at the club, and b) Possibly spending my money on buses/taxis to and form the Lowry everyday.

Another thing which is a general worry about the course is that, it seems to have a very little amount of academic pieces which are highly assessed (for example, my first assignment up there is marked using a percentage system, 50% process (rehearsal,) 25% performance and 25% written evaluation.) I'm not used to this! I studied psychology, which you may have heard of as an almost completely academically assessed course, its all essays, worksheets, exams with a few presentations and seminars in there. I've spent a year on access preparing for an entirely different course, of course I understood that psychology and performing arts would be worlds apart but I was hoping my experience in theatre would be enough. Maybe I was wrong...

Not a great start...

So its my second night here right? I had a wonderful evening chatting with my new house mates and playing some cards, chilling and listening to some good music (mostly mine.) I say my good night's and head off to my room, a bit of computer, an hour of reading, and I guess I drop off at about 2am.

I awake at 4am experiencing the most pain I have ever felt in my life, it is hard to describe, kinda like trapped wind except there is no position you could get in to ease the pain, it just persists. The pain was very local in my lower right abdomen, which as you can imagine gave me instant images of appendicitis, which scared the hell out of me, not the thought of dying from a burst appendix, but the idea of going into hospital and what not (don't ask me why, I'm just not a fan of going to hospitals.)

I got up and searched the web with my symptoms (typical student, and very daft of me, I know,) and got worried when nothing really matched them, at about half four when I was feeling nausea, dry mouth, cold sweats and violent shaking, I decided it was time to ring for an ambulance. So in the most casual (albeit strained, shivered) voice I could muster, I asked for an ambulance to Castle Irwell Student Village. They arrived in about 20 minutes and the paramedics were very friendly (for 5am in the morning.) By the time the ambulance arrived the pain in my stomach had become a dull, heavy ache, but my lower back just behind my abdomen in the same place was in an amazing amount of pain (more than usual, I normally have some lower back pain anyway) but I was able to walk a little straighter and was no longer feeling nausea or having cold shivers or fever (besides from actually being cold, hey, it was 5am!)

So I got into the ambulance and this lovely big black guy called Paul checked my vitals, I was trying to keep a stiff upper lip with my usual form of nervous humour, but didn't get much of a reaction (remember, this guys on night shift) but we got some friendly chatter going, that's when I found I was actually going into hospital. I started to get a little anxious at this, I don't like hospitals and although I know that the pain probably warranted a checkup, I was also hoping he would check to see if I was fine then let me out and I could see a doctor in my own time, but either way I'm glad how things went... I'll continue. We arrived at Hope Hospital, and I have to say they were very quick in seeing me, I only waited about half an hour to be seen, and all they did was re-check some of my vitals for their records (and for the doctor to see.) I was checked on by a chubby nurse called George who was friendly but a little less chatty, again I put this down to it now being about quarter to six. Vitals checked normal, so I saw the out of hours GP, who asked me some questions, poked my stomach and my back, and sent me to piss in a pot. I had to go anyway so it wasn't too hard, although weird because I tend not to piss in small pots, especially ones I am holding (I have no idea how girls manage!)

He checked it out with a strip of paper which changes colour, and curiously mentions "There's blood in your urine", I think he was speaking to himself, but he made me a little nervous at this, mostly because it must have been so dilute and trace in its consistency because my wee just looked like normal everyday 'over-the-counter' urine. All puns aside, he seemed a little bit stumped, but mentioned casually that he thought it is probably kidney stones. Kidney stones! I suppose there is worse to have but still, the most pain I have ever felt in my stomach and he casually rallies it off as kidney stones, as if it isn't a big deal (then again, I imagine it wasn't a big deal to him.) He has sent my lovely warm sample off for analysis to confirm what it is (or more appropriately he mentioned, "what it isn't") and prescribed some classic kidney stone tablets to stop inflamation.

Ah, but thats not where my evening, or rather morning ends! After thanking the Doctor for his time, and the Receptionist for showing me how to get out of the building by pressing a big green button on the door which said 'open' (hey, 6am remember?) I was free, but I was free at Hope Hospital after a long ambulance ride with no windows, and no obvious, momorable landmarks. I was totally lost, luckily Id remember to grab the essentials before hobbling to the end of the road to wait for the ambulance; keys, phone and wallet. So I had the money to get back, and the phone to ring a taxe, but the receptionist gave me a decent bus route to Castle Irwell and so I put my faith in the public transport system...

..and it payed off! the bus driver was such a lovely chap (I didn't ask his name, I feel bad about it now though) and he told me that the bus I got on (the number 10, for those interested) went straight to Castle Irwell Student Village and even charged me a cheap fare, I was so pleased that after a rough start with severe stomach pain, everyone from the paramedics, nurses, receptionists, doctors and bus drivers in the area were so nice and accommodating, it really has warmed my heart.

I went to bed at around half six/sevenish with the intent to wake up at 11, ready for my induction at half one. I woke up at one oclock and missed about fourty five minutes of my induction, and a lot of information to boot but I think my mitigating circumstances have me taking a more placid approach to the whole thing. Other than that it was an uneventful day... I am of course joking, we managed to get a friend sorted on his uni course, and to celebrate had a lovely cheap lunch in the student bar.

So there you have it, kidney stones. I can still feel a dull pain, and I will need to visit a pharmacy to get the pills I need which I think will get rid of the pain a bit more. I am a little bit afraid to go to sleep tonight incase it happens again but I have no choice! all I can do is hope it doesnt feel as bad as it used to, maybe I should go home for a day or so to steal some tablets and try and rest up. Or maybe in times like these when Im ill I just want to be near family, yeah, its probably that.

How moving!

I have Just got back from a wonderful day out in manchester with my friend Chantelle and her fella Trevor, and I had such a splendid time!

I admit that it has been a while since I was in manchester sampling the delights of the city (which in this case means a lot of gassing, window shopping and watching an old man dancing on the street.) Actually speaking of that man on the street, there were a lot of people videoing it, I might look on youtube for cinematographic evidence...

..Anyway, all distractions aside I really did have such a good day, just hanging with my friends, in the city, it was nice. It gave me a taste of what uni life is going to be like, but the taste is short lived as as soona s this friday I will be living it! Thats right, come this friday I shall be moving an amount of my stuff from this small bedroom at the back of the house to a slightly less-small bedroom just outside manchester city centre. I am certainly looking forward to the adventure, and meeting a whole host of new people, I can't help but feel that I will be leaving a lot behind though (regardless of th fact that I will be visiting home weekly.) I suppose I shall have to just go with the flow (as I did at Bolton university, which I didn't believe was actually going to happen until I stepped on the train to my first lesson, october 13th last year.)

Oh look, heres a video of that dancing old man!

You know what's odd? although we saw him today, that video is three months old, now thats dedication!

EDIT: You know after watching the video in more detail, I notice that the man we saw today, although the same as that man in the video, was looking much thinner, posatively gaunt compared to the chubster above. I hope somebody in manchester takes note of that and makes sure hes eating properly.

Sye's Online!

Just a quick note to let you all (well, all three of you) know I'm back online again.

I guess its testament to how terribly dependant on technology my life is now, having no internet feels like having a limb removed, I have to catch up on a whole weekend's worth of net!

That means no time to blog, gotta jog!

The storm before the calm?

I have been quite unwell for a few days now. What I thought was a little tickle in my throat on Wednesday turned into a horrendous swelling on Thursday evening, and even had some of the youth workers asking me whether I was alright (at the youth group that I go to, not just in the street.)

I was running a rather high fever and couldn't cool down, then went into cold shivers which almost never happens given the extra layer of fat I have covering every inch of my body. My throat was burning and scratchy but at the same time lined with muscus and swollen to the point where it hurt to talk. Couple this with the aching I get in me teeth and the horrible pounding I get in my ears, and the headache, and I was definitely not feeling top form on Thursday evening.

I felt a little better Friday morning and after getting some good old ibuprofen and paracetamol down me I was right as rain, although the lack of Internet has been a pain. At the moment I am writing from my brothers computer, he has gone to sort something out with his bike. Its been quite bad actually because I haven't been able to occupy my time with my usual non-illegal drug, the World of Warcraft.

Instead I've been playing a game that I reserve for when I do not have access to the net. It used to be that I would play Abe's Exodus (was and is still a fabulous 2D side scrolling game) but I now play Neverwinter Nights when the doors to the internet is closed. Its good because it satifies my need for RPG game play and the need for a good story (as you play through the NWN campaigns its like your character is unraveling a mystery.)

I finnished the biography of Julie Walters; That's Another Story, which is a damn good read not just for people interested in going into performing arts, but also for people who come from working class backgrounds, I could really relate to the kind of life Mrs Walter has had and found her retelling of the parts of her childhood to be very entertaining and endeering. I am now reading the Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks which is a jolly interesting read on how to survive the zombie holocaust (for anyone who doesn't know, I love all things to do with zombies; books, games, movies, stories, anything!) although I have to say I am looking forward to check up on his references, as I'm reading it I cant help but feel that hes just telling a story to take advantage of the zombie-ists out there. The next thing I have lined up is An Utterly Impartial History of Britain: (or 2000 Years of Upper Class Idiots in Charge) by John O'Farrel, which looks to be a good and humerous read into the history of britain and the pomposity of the upper echelon, I will review that book once I have read it!

My Lovely Literature List

Incase you haven't seen (or haven't scrolled down that far) not only is there, ad always has there been a links list (you lazy fool) but you might also notice a new gadget, this is my Reading list. It is just a short list of what I have recently read, and also what I would recommend reading.

Books such as the QI books of numerous facts, and Stephen Fry in America I even read again and again simply because not only could you possibly remember everything in them, but they are full of such interesting information that you get something new out of it every time you read.

I tend to stick to non-fiction, keeping to books with information I can take away and use rather than stories to entertain me (I'm one of those lucky people who actually enjoys seeking knowledge, and gains pleasure merely by learning.) However there are few occasions where someone will recommend a work of fiction (for example, the War of the Ancients) that I will enjoy and you will probably find those on the reading list as well.

I may even find a book that I will want to review in depth if I have been perticularly effected by it, but we shall have to see what the future brings!

PS; I have set some posts to go online at a certain time over the weekend, so while my internet is down, it will look lik I am still posting!

Virgin? Yes but don't tell anyone...

Virgin broadband is totally and utterly stupid. For no reason what-so-ever my moden stopped working last night, and on phoning them up today I find out that its something to do with the downstream not logging on to the network, something to do with it being underpowered.

Anyway what this means is that my internet is down until monday, possibly longer knowing what these people are like with getting new parts and what not.

And I have to say, it is not very handy for me to lose my internet at the moment, what with me needing to get details to and from uni via email, and all that jazz, and I have still to hear from student finance about my claim, even though they have sent back my birth certificate. I got an email through the other day telling me that the deadline is closing for my second application supporter to send in evidence, when my mum and dad sent their support in at the same time as eachother, at the same time as me!

It'll all get sorted, I am finding it hard to be sympathetic towards the student finance company at the moment though.

I've been spending again...

And its not my usual penny pinching, cheap ass £10 trainers from shoe zone, no, I've got something Ive been wanting for years...

Footed Pjamas! those are the exact ones I've ordered and I think they will come in very handy for not only saving on my heating, but also because I intend on losing weight, and might start to feel the cold a little more than I do now.

...alright alright, I also got them because they look so darn cute! I'll post a picture when I get them.

Back to the future, 2!

I've been getting miscellaneous letters from UCAS and Salford congratulating me on getting a confirmed place on the course and having a confirmed place in accommodation. I'm not entirely certain, but I think that means that there is now very little that can stop me from going to uni, which means that it is actually, really happening.

This is quite a big thing for me, I mean Im excited, so excited am I that the Im glad the seat I sit on now has a waterproof leather cover, incase I wee with excitement, I've never done it before but hey, its kinda like a heart attack, even the first time can be a big issue.

Anyway anyway anyway, yes I am ready for uni, and I am very glad that I won't be going there alone, I have some friends who are making the monumental step to higher education along with me, which I am very greatful for believe me. Still waiting on my finances to be confirmed, hmm, I'd forgotten about them, maybe theres something that can throw a spanner in the works after all! oh deary...

I am very thankful for the oppertunity to go to university, and often find myself looking back at what my life might have been like had I been born a hundred years ago, being down in the pit with no hope of a future beyond the life I have known in wigan. Infact even looking back twenty or thirty years would have seen my life with different oppertunities, for you see people from lower, working class families like mine didnt go into education, we got a trade and we stuck to it, or we simply didnt last. I'm going to try my best at my studies, for all the people who have missed out on the oppertunity to excel simply because of the wrong place and the wrong time.

PS; incase you are confused, the title is a reference to this post, made when all this Uni business began.